10 Must-Follow Nashville Charity Facebook Pages

NASHVILLE, TN - This holiday season, make sure your news feed is filled with more than engagement announcements and photos from Christmas parties. Take a look at these top Nashville charities on Facebook and figure out how you can give back to the local community.

Make sure you're staying on top of the different ways you can give back to local Nashville charities this holiday season and don't miss out on any Nashville news by signing up for the Nashville Patch free morning newsletter and Breaking News Alerts.

NashCARES is a charitable organization in Nashville whose mission is to support those affected by HIV/AIDS by raising money for research, creating courses in preventative education and providing free HIV screening tests to young men and women in Nashville. This past year, NashCARES provided almost 17,000 members of the Nashville community with a comprehensive, complimentary HIV test. Follow their Facebook page to stay on top of their different programs, get updates for their schedule of screenings and learn about any upcoming volunteer opportunities. They're open from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville was opened in 1991. Since its founding, the mission has remained the same: "keep families close" and "home away from home." The Ronald McDonald House works to support terminally ill children and their families while they're undergoing invasive, often dangerous treatments. The 32 bedroom Ronald McDonald house functions as a clean and safe outpatient treatment center. Follow their Facebook page to get updates about their upcoming fundraising drives and volunteer opportunities. They're open 24 hours a day.

Ladies of Charity Nashville prides itself on providing medical, spiritual and emotional assistance to the people of Nashville who are in need. Ladies of Charity Nashville provides several different services to those in need, like supplying layettes for newborn babies or providing indigenous people with a proper burial if they are unable to afford one themselves. Follow their Facebook page to get updates about their charitable programs, and how you can help out. Their Christmas Box program, for example, supports homeless Nashville veterans. Help Ladies of Charity Nashville continue their work with the commuity by donating a warm hat, warm socks or a small blanket.

Gobble Gobble Give Nashville has been feeding the hungry and homeless population of Nashville for the past three years. Last holiday season, they fed and clothed over 3,000 people - that's 3/4 of Nashville's homeless population. This year, Gobble Gobble Give provided 4,299 homeless people with a home cooked Thanksgiving meal. Follow their Facebook page to get updated with their different volunteer opportunities- there is a huge need for helping hands in the Nashville area, especially around Christmas time.

Nashville Cat Rescue is a nonprofit organization that specializes in rescuing cats and kittens from the streets or from high-kill shelters. Since its founding in 2005, Nashville Cat Rescue has found loving, permanent homes for over 5,000 cats. This holiday season, give a gift the keeps giving and provide a homeless cat or kitten with a new family. Or, if adoption is too much of a commitment, you can volunteer at one of their various adoption locations. Follow Nashville Cat Rescue on Facebook and fill your news feed with pictures of adoptable cats and stay on top of their different donation drives and fundraising opportunities.

Nashville Peace and Justice Center is a community coalition that was founded in 1992. NPJC is dedicated to creating sustainable social change through non-violent demonstrations and protests. This holiday season, Nashville Peace and Justice Center is collaborating with Radio Free Nashville to raise money for their different non-violent actions and workshops to come in 2017. Follow NPJC on Facebook to stay on top of their different holiday fundraisers and volunteer opportunities.

Rebuilding Together Nashville is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make sure all Nashville families have a safe and healthy home. As the weather turns colder this Christmas season, the need for additional volunteers and building materials will increase. Follow Rebuilding Together Nashville on Facebook and learn about what's on their list of 'needed donations items' this holiday season.

Second Harvest Middle Tennessee serves families in need in over 46 counties in both Middle and West Tennessee. Second Harvest has impressive numbers, thanks to their dedicated volunteers and partner organizations. In the 2012-2013 fiscal year, Second Harvest served almost 20 million meals to hungry people in the Nashville and greater Tennessee area. Follow Second Harvest on Facebook and find out about their holiday fundraising drives and volunteer opportunities.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee provides children in the Nashville community with a support system in the form of a 'Big Brother' or 'Big Sister.' These older role models are volunteers from the surrounding Tennessee area, and they spend time with high risk Nashville youth in order to establish healthy and supportive relationships with them. During the holiday season, the need for additional volunteers sky rockets, as does the need for fundraising. Follow Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee to learn about how you can support Nashville youth this holiday season, with either your time or money.

Autism Education and Therapy Center works with families of children who have autism or other emotional or developmental disabilities. Through behavior therapy, communication and socialization, AutismETC provides support and opportunities to learn and grow for children with autism. Follow AutismETC on Facebook and see some of their suggestions for homemade holiday gifts this Christmas, and learn how you can support the work they do year round by staying up to date with their different volunteer opportunities and fundraisers.

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